Professor Jamie Druckman - Northwestern University
Professor Jamie Druckman PoliSci 101-6 Freshman Seminar
druckman@northwestern.edu Winter Quarter, 2016
211 Scott Hall Office Hours: By appointment
Sports, Politics, and Public Opinion
Course Description
Sports and politics have become increasingly intertwined over the last half-century. Local, state, and federal governments as well as other governing bodies (e.g., the NCAA) regulate who can participate (e.g., eligibility, equality) and what standards athletes must meet (e.g., drug testing, academic performance). These organizations also oversee economic (e.g., resource distribution) and symbolic (e.g., mascots) issues. Ideally, governing policies would be responsive to the wishes of their constituents (players, owners, voters), but are they? How would we know? How do we gauge their opinions? Alternatively, how do sports affect public opinion? Do citizens prefer politicians who engage in sports? Do media portrayals of sports affect what citizens think about race and/or gender? These are the kinds of questions we will consider in this class. This involves learning the science of public opinion polling and applying it to study opinions about public policies relevant to sports.
The focus of this class is on what individuals think about sports and how sports affect their behaviors. The class thus does not explore technical aspects of legal rules governing sports. It is also necessary, due to limited time, to be selective in topics and therefore the class excludes some obviously important topics such as labor relations, the Olympics, FIFA, etc. The class will mainly focus on college athletics.
Assignments and Grades
The class meets in Scott Hall 319 on Tuesdays from 3:30pm-6:00pm. Students are expected to attend all classes, complete assigned readings and assignments on time, and actively participate.
Students will be involved in three formal activities, as follows:
1. Class Paper/Presentation. Each student will be assigned a topic (and specific question) on which the class is focusing on a given week. The student will work with one or two other students to produce an approximately 5 page (double-spaced) background/research paper on the topic. The paper should clearly outline the pros and cons of the given issue and provide some pointed discussion questions (beyond the 5 pages).
a. Students are expected to engage in background (academic) research, beyond class readings (e.g., using Google scholar), and cite sources.
b. Students are expected to share the workload with the other student(s).
c. The paper should be sent to the entire class, via e-mail, by 5:00PM the Monday prior to the class.
d. The students will then present the paper to the class and lead a discussion/debate.
e. Students can refine the question, but should be in contact with the Professor if doing so.
All students working on a given topic will receive the same score. This will comprise a total of 20% of each student’s grade.
2. Class Research Project. We will be conducting a survey of Big 10 athletes. This will involve the following steps:
a. Each student will be assigned a school. The student will then download the roster for every athletic team. Note some schools may not have public e-mail directories in which case those schools will be excluded.
b. The student will then use the school’s search directory to obtain the e-mail of each student-athlete.
c. Each week, each student will be expected to report on progress.
d. As a class, we will construct the survey based on the class presentations. That is, after discussion of the class presentations (see above activity), the class will break into small groups to suggest items and/or experiments to include on the survey.
e. The class will then vote on which items to include on the survey, with some guidance/revision from the Professor.
This will comprise a total of 15% of each student’s grade.
3. Research Paper. Each student will produce a research paper, focused on some aspect of sports that is amenable to exploring public opinion on the issue. This will involve choosing a topic near the start of the quarter, identifying relevant literature (at least a dozen sources) and reviewing it, collecting or acquiring data, analyzing the data (in a very basic manner), and writing a paper describing the results. The papers should be approximately15 pages (excluding bibliography and tables/graphs). Students will be asked to provide reports to the class throughout the quarter. This will comprise a total of 50% of each student’s grade. It is due, in the Professor’s box, by 12:00pm on Wednesday, March 16th.
In the course of writing the paper, two Ph.D. students will be available for questions and help with obtaining data, if needed. You will be assigned to work with one of the two. They are Ethan Busby (busby.ethan@) and Jake Rothschild (jacob.e.rothschild@).
The remaining 15% of each student’s grade will be based on attendance and the quality of participation. There also may be a few small assignments that form part of the participation grade. If a student misses a class, it is the student’s responsibility to provide written documentation of a legitimate excuse (see course policies); otherwise, it will be counted as an unexcused absence. Also, if a student misses class (excused or unexcused), it is the student’s responsibility to learn about any missed assignments, discussion, and so on. The student should do this by talking to other students prior to contacting the Professor. Participation involves taking part in class activities, discussing class readings in an informed way, and discussing ongoing relevant events. While the quantity of the contribution to class discussion is not definitive, some regular participation is expected. Also surprise quizzes based on readings are possible and will affect participation grades.
A table with due dates appears at the end of the syllabus.
Readings
All readings can be found online or will be available from the Professor. Note that some of the readings include statistics that may be unfamiliar. Do not worry about the specific statistical analyses, instead focusing on the overall argument and implications described in the given reading. Also, readings may change – students will be alerted to any changes at least one week prior to the given class (e.g., some readings may be dropped and others possibly added).
Students are expected to read all of the assigned readings before each class. Surprise quizzes on the readings are possible (and will become part of the students’ participation grade). If a student misses a class without a legitimate excuse, he or she will receive a 0 on any quizzes. It also will be necessary for students to include direct references to the readings in their assignments.
Course Policies
• It is the student’s responsibility to obtain an assignment if he or she is absent during the class in which the assignment is distributed or discussed. Assignments are due at the start of the class period on the days they are due. Make-up in-class assignments and/or late papers will be permitted only if the student presents written documentation of legitimate circumstances that prevented the student from completing the assignment on time. This documentation must be provided in a timely manner (i.e., within a week); failure to provide such documentation will result in the student receiving a 0 on the assignment in question. Legitimate circumstances include religious holidays, illness (verified by a note from a health care provider), serious family emergencies, subpoenas, jury duty, military service, and participation in group activities sponsored by the University. Note this means late assignments are not acceptable (even for partial credit; a score of 0 will be assigned for late assignments absent a legitimate excuse).
• Assignments are not accepted via e-mail (unless the Professor explicitly states that e-mail is allowed). An assignment must be turned in as a hard copy at the start of the class in which it is due. Assignments must be stapled at this time or they will not be accepted.
• Grading will be done by the Professor or a teaching assistant. If a student wishes to appeal an assigned grade, he or she must submit a written statement to the Professor explaining why the grade should be changed. This must be done within one week after the assignment is returned to the student.
• Incompletes will be granted only in the case of documented illness, and if the student and Professor complete the required form.
• As mentioned, some work will be done in teams. Working with others invariably leads to some disagreement. Students should approach their partners/team with an open and flexible mind. If there are major problems, students should notify the professor.
• Finally, students are expected to type each written assignment. The assignments should be proofread; spelling, grammar, and writing style will make up part of a student’s grade. Also, students are expected to make reference to the academic literature when appropriate including journal articles and books.
Course Outline
January 5 Public Goods, Government, and the Regulation of Sports
o Assignment: We will identify approximately five attitudes in class (e.g., attitude towards sports, particular teams, etc). Each student will develop a measure for each concept, and implement a simple survey with at least 20 respondents. The student should be prepared to present the measures and the results to class on 1/12.
o Assign Research Paper/Presentation Topics.
o Readings (to be read by 1/5): SKIM the following articles on concussions:
o
o
o
o
o
o
o Class activity: We will participate in a simulation to explore the nature of public goods.
January 12 Studying Public Opinion
o Assignment: One paragraph description of research topic, and identification of five sources (on the topic) not listed on the syllabus. Set up meetings with graduate students for advice on project. Due 1/19.
o Readings (to be read by 1/12):
o The Voter’s Guide to Election Polls, by Michael W. Traugott and Paul J. Lavrakas, Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc., 2008, chapters 1, 5, 6.
o “Experiments,” by James N. Druckman, In Samuel J. Best and Benjamin Radcliff, eds., Polling America: An Encyclopedia of Public Opinion, Volume 2. Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2005.
o “An Anatomy of Survey-Based Experiments,” by Martin Gilens, In Jeff Manza, Fay Lomax Cook, and Benjamin I. Page, Navigating Public Opinion, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002.
o “The Political Relevance of Irrelevant Events,” by Ethan Busby, James N. Druckman, and Alexandria Fredendall. Working Paper. Skim – will discuss in class.
January 19 The Impact of College Sports
Note: January 22nd is the last day to change grade status for a class to P-N.
o Assignment: Identify at least 12 total sources on the research topic and provide a list with a paragraph on each. Due 1/26.
o Class Paper/Presentation: Should college athletes be paid (beyond full cost of attendance scholarships)? If so, all athletes or only those from revenue generating sports?
o Explain NCAA rules on compensation. Discuss the penalties and provide examples of cases. Discuss the O’Bannon case. Discuss pros and cons.
o Readings:
o “It’s Time to Pay College Athletes,” by Sean Gregory, Timei, September 16, 2013.
o “Some College Athletes Will Now Get Paid—a Little,” by Sean Gregory, Time, August 7, 2014.
o “What is full cost of attendance for NCAA athletes?,” by Eric Prisbell, USA Today. August 17, 2014.
o “Colleges’ Shift on Four-Year Scholarships Reflects Players’ Growing Power,” by Ben Strauss, New York Times, October 28, 2014,
o “Public Perceptions on Paying Student Athletes,” by Michael Mondello, Alex R. Piquero, Nicole Leeper Piquero, Marc Gertz, and Jake Bratton, Sport in Society: Cultures, Commerce, Media, Politics 16: 106-119, 2014
o “Large Majority Opposes Paying NCAA Athletes, Washington Post-ABC News Poll Finds,” by Alex Prewitt, The Washington Post, March 24, 2014. .
o “Prestige, Charitable Deductions and Other Determinants of Alumni Giving: Evidence from Highly Selective Liberal Arts College,” by Jessica Holmes, Economics of Education Review 28: 18-28, 2009.
o “Quality Perception and the Championship Effect: Do Collegiate Sports Influence Academic Rankings,” by Steven R. Cox, and Dianne M. Roden, Research in Higher Education Journal: 1-11, 2010.
January 26 Gender
o Assignment: An approximately three to four page literature review of the research topic. Identification of data source. Due 2/2.
o Class Paper/Presentation: Should universities be required to comply with Title IX when it comes to athletics?
o Explain the history of Title IX. Provide details on what Title IX compliance requires when it comes to athletics. Is Northwestern compliant? Report overall compliance data for the NCAA. Discuss pros and cons.
o Readings:
o “What is Title IX?,” by Women’s Sports Foundation.
o “A Title IX Primer,” by Women’s Sports Foundation.
o Gender Equity Forty Years Later,” by Paul M. Anderson, The International Sports Law Journal, 13, 3-8, 2013.
o Cheerleading in the Context of Title IX and Gendering in Sport,” by R. Boyce, The Sport Journal, 11, 1-11, 2008.
o “Public Support for Gender Equality in Athletics Programs,” by Lee Sigelman, and Clyde Wilcox, Women & Politics 22: 85-96, 2001.
o “Artificial Turf Controversy a Constant in Backdrop of Women's World Cup,” by Laurent Dubois, Sports Illustrated, June 24, 2015.
o “Biased Voices of Sports: Racial and Gender Stereotyping in College Basketball Announcing,” by Susan Tyler Eastman, and Andrew C. Billings, The Howard Journal of Communications 12: 183-201, 2001.
o “You Throw Like a Girl:’ The Effect of Stereotype Threat on Women’s Athletic Performance and Gender Stereotypes,” by Kimberly Hively and Amani El-Alayli, Psychology of Sport and Exercise 38-55, 2014.
February 2 Race
o Assignment: For those collecting their own data, complete the survey to be used; for those using secondary data, identify the data source and how it will be acquired. Due 2/9.
o Class Paper/Presentation: Should universities and/or professional teams be required to interview minority candidates for coaching positions?
o Discuss the history of minorities in coaching positions. Report data on minorities in major coaching positions across sports/leagues. Discuss the Rooney rule. Are there such rules in the NCAA? If not, should there be? Discuss pros and cons.
o Readings:
o Black Male Student-Athletes and Racial Inequities in NCAA Division 1 College Sports, by Shaun R. Harper, Collin D. Williams Jr., and Horatio W. Blackman, Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania, Center for the Study of Race and Equity in Education, 2013.
o “Black Men as College Athletes: The Real Win-Loss Record,” by Shaun R. Harper, Chronicle of Higher Education, January 20, 2014.
o “Keeping Score When it Counts,” by Richard E. Lapchik, 2011. See
o “An Exploratory Study of Black Male College Athlete’s Perceptions on Race and Athlete Activism,” by Kwame Agyemang, John N. Singer, and Joshua De Lorme, International Review for the Sociology of Sport 45: 419-435, 2010.
o “Opportunity Seldom Knocks for Black Football Coaches,” by Marc Tracy, New York Times, December 14, 2015.
o “Skill in Black and White: Negotiating Media Images of Race in a Sporting Context,” by Daniel Buffington, and Todd Fraley, Journal of Communication Inquiry 32: 292-310, 2008.
o “Racial Bias in Perceptions of Others’ Pain,” by Sophie Trawalter, Kelly M. Hoffman, and Adam Waytz, PLoSOne 7: e48546, 2012.
February 9 Drugs
Note: February 12th is the last day to drop a class and pre-registration for spring begins on February 15th (registration begins on February 22nd).
o Assignment: All data must be obtained. Due 2/16.
o Class Paper/Presentation: Is drug testing of college athletes an invasion of privacy (e.g., see Hill vs. NCAA lawsuit)?
o Discuss the rules about NCAA drug testing. What drugs are not allowed? How does testing take place? What are the penalties? Discuss statistics on violations. How does it compare to the Olympics, the MLB, and the NFL? Discuss pros and cons.
o Readings:
o “NCAA Study of Substance Use and Abuse Habits of College Student-Athletes,” by Gray A. Green, Frank D. Uryasz, Todd A. Petr, and Corey D. Bray, Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine 11: 51-56, 2001.
o Substance Use: National Study of Substance Use Trends Among College Student-Athletes, NCAA, 2012.
o “Sports Illustrated, the ‘War on Drugs,’ the Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 1990,” by Bryan E. Denham, Journal of Sport & Social Issues 21: 260-273, 1997.
o “Clemens and Armstrong Aren’t Worth Pursuing,” by Jonathan Mahler, New York Times, July 2, 2011, B9.
o “Why It's Time To Legalize Steroids In Professional Sports,” by Chris Smith, Forbes, October 24, 2012.
o “Do Fans Care about Compliance to Doping Regulations in Sports? The Impact of PED Suspension in Baseball,” by Jeffrey Cisyk and Pascal Courty, Working Paper, University of Victoria, 2014.
February 16 Mascots
o Assignment: Analyze data and write 3 to 4 page description. Due 2/23.
o Class Paper/Presentation: Should universities and/or professional teams with Native American mascots be penalized (or forced to change mascots)?
o Provide details on the prelavence of such mascots at different levels/types of sports, the University of North Dakota case (e.g., compare to Florida State), the Washington Redskins case (and legal battle). Discuss pros and cons.
o Readings:
o “The Indian Wars,” by S.L. Price, Sports Illustrated, March 4, 2002.
o “Of Polls and Race Prejudice: Sports Illustrated’s Errant ‘Indian Wars’,” by C. Richard King, Ellen J. Staurowsky, Lawrence Baca, Laurel R. Davis, and Cornel Pewewardy, Journal of Sport & Social Issues 26: 381-402, 2002.
o “Native American Team Names and Mascots: Disparaging and Insensitive Or Just a Part of the Game?,” by Kristine A. Brown, Sports Law Journal 115: 115-130, 2002.
o “Of Warrior Chiefs and Indian Princesses: The Psychological Consequences of American Indian Mascots,” by Stephanie A. Fryberg, Hazel Rose Markus, Daphna Oyserman, and Joseph M. Stone, Basic and Applied Social Psychology 20: 208-218, 2008.
o “The 2,128 Native American Mascots People Aren’t Talking About,” by Hayley Munguia, , September 5, 2015.
o Summary of the APA Resolution Recommending Retirement of American Indian Mascots, 2005. .
o “The Long, Strange Demise of North Dakota’s 'Fighting Sioux',” by Andy Thomason, Chronicle of Higher Education, October 22, 2015
o “Most Indians Say Name of Washington “Redskins” Is Acceptable While 9 Percent Call It Offensive, Annenberg Data Show,” Annenberg Public Policy Center, 2004.
o “11 Reasons to Ignore the 10-Year-Old Annenberg Survey About the Washington Football Team’s Offensive Name,” by Brandon Butler, 2014,
o “Survey on Redskins Team Name Found Most American Indians Believe It To Be Offensive and Racist,” by James V. Fenelon, California State University, San Bernardino, Working Paper, 2014.
o “Poll: 71 percent say keep Redskins,” ESPN, September 2, 2014.
o “Tribe Supports Native American Mascotism,” by Paul Lukas, ESPN, February 20, 2013,
o “Ruling Could Help Washington Redskins in Trademark Case,” by Richard Sandomir, Mew York Times, December 22, 2015.
February 23 Sports and Political Statements
o Assignment: Complete a draft of the entire research paper. Due 3/1.
o Class Paper/Presentation: Should athletes, when acting/working as such, make political statements? Do they have a responsibility to do so?
o Provide details on the 1968 Olympics, Michael Jordan’s failure to endorse Senate candidate Harvey Gantt (see ; ; but also see ), the recent University of Missouri football team activities, etc. Discuss pros and cons.
o Readings:
o “Political Football: Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson and the Gridiron Reform Movement,” by John S. Watterson, Presidential Studies Quarterly 25: 555-564, 1995.
o “The Games President’s Play: Sports and the Presidency,” by Nina C. Ayoub, Chronicle of Higher Education, October 27, 2006.
o “To Be Safe, Politicians Keep Golf at a Distance,” by Juliet Macur, New York Times, June 16, 2011, B12.
o “Presidents and Sports: How Does Obama Stack Up?,” by Erik Spanberg, The Christian Science Monitor January 16, 2009.
o “Politicians and Their Games: Emotional Reactions to Politicians Who Play Sports,” by Alexander L. Curry, Working Paper, University of Texas at Austin.
o “The Politics of Race and Support: Resistance and Domination in the 1968 African American Olympic Protest Movement,” by Douglas Hartmann, Ethnic and Racial Studies 19: 548-566, 1996.
1 “University of Missouri Football Players Exercise Power in Racism Protest,” By William C. Rhoden, New York Times, November 8, 2015. .
o “Attempt to Silence College Athletes Could Backfire on Missouri Legislators,” by Shannon Ryan, Chicago Tribune, December 15, 2015.
o “Missouri Bid to Strip Scholarships if Athletes Strike Pulled,” Associate Press. December 16, 2015.
o “N.B.A. Lends Its Name and Its Stars to Campaign Against Gun Violence,” by Zach Schobrun, and Michael Barbaro, New York Times, December 24, 2015,
o Class activity: We will finalize our class survey.
March 1 Catch-Up, Wrap-up, and Project Reports
March 8 Reading Period Begins
March 16 Final Paper Due
|Due Date |Assignment |
|Assigned Weekly |Class Paper/Presentation |
|January 12th |Survey |
|January 19th |Research Topic and Five Sources |
|January 26th |Twelve Sources for Research Paper |
|February 2nd |Literature Review for Research Paper |
|February 9th |Data Identified |
|February 16th |Data Collected |
|February 23rd |Data Analysis |
|March 1st |Draft of Research Paper |
|March 16th |Final Research Paper |
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